Perth Children's Hospital

For the old Perth Children's Hospital, see Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.

Perth Children's Hospital
Map
Geography
LocationNedlands, City of Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Coordinates31°58′11″S 115°49′00″E / 31.969619°S 115.816645°E / -31.969619; 115.816645 (Perth Children's Hospital)
Organisation
Care systemPublic Medicare (AU)
FundingPublic hospital
TypeSpecialist tertiary
Services
Emergency departmentYes
Beds298
History
Opened12 May 2018; 6 years ago (2018-05-12)
Links
Websitepch.health.wa.gov.au Edit this at Wikidata
ListsHospitals in Australia

Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) is a specialist children's hospital in Nedlands, Western Australia, located at the corner of Winthrop Avenue and Monash Avenue on the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre (QEII) site. It is Western Australia's specialist paediatric hospital and trauma centre, providing medical care to children and adolescents up to 16 years of age.

This hospital provides treatment for the most serious medical cases, as well as secondary services including inpatient, outpatient and day-stay care for children and young people.

History

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In 2008, the state government announced that a new children's hospital would be built to replace Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.[1] In January 2012, Premier Colin Barnett and Minister for Health Kim Hames held a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the beginning of the construction.[1]

On 30 September 2013, Premier Colin Barnett announced that the new 298-bed hospital would use the original 1909 name, Perth Children's Hospital.[2] This name was chosen as part of efforts to promote "Perth as a major centre for medical health and medical research".[3]

After structural and medical problems with the building delayed the hospital's opening multiple times, the hospital officially opened on 12 May 2018—although some departments started operating earlier than that. Outpatients began to be accepted on 14 May 2018. Surgery opened on 28 May 2018, followed by the emergency department on 10 June 2018 coinciding with the closure of Princess Margaret Hospital.[4][5]

Transport

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PCH is 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the Perth city centre, adjacent to Winthrop Avenue and opposite the western boundary of Kings Park.[6] Drop off and pick up bays are available outside the main entrance and the emergency department.[6] Paid parking may be available in the basement carpark at PCH (accessible from the southern end of Hospital Avenue), and in the QEII multi-deck carpark (accessible from Winthrop Avenue).[6] The nearest public transport stops are along Hospital Avenue and Monash Avenue, operated by Transperth.[6]

A pedestrian bridge, dual-named as The Kids' Bridge and Koolangka Bridge, was built in 2021, linking PCH with Kings Park.[7]

Controversy

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In April 2021, seven-year-old Aishwarya Aswath died, reportedly within 15 minutes of "a doctor finally" seeing her,[8] at Perth Children's Hospital after waiting about two hours in the emergency department before doctors attended to her, despite her parents asking for help "four or five times".[9][10] A month prior, emergency nurses at the hospital had formally warned of staffing levels and safety, pointing out "several incidents resulting in significant harm to patients".[9][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "New Children's Hospital Project". Department of Health, Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 30 January 2013.
  2. ^ Orr, Aleisha (30 September 2013). "Perth Children's Hospital will need 'two extra floors'". WA Today. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  3. ^ "AMA criticises decision not to add extra floor to new children's hospital". ABC News. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  4. ^ Young, Emma (12 May 2018). "Hundreds gather for Perth Children's Hospital opening". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  5. ^ Mundy, Garrett (10 June 2018). "Princess Margaret Hospital shuts doors as sick kids move to Perth Children's Hospital". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d "Travelling to PCH". pch.health.wa.gov.au. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  7. ^ "The Kids Bridge is now open!". Perth Children's Hospital. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  8. ^ Fernandes, Aaron; Sivadas, Deeju (10 April 2021). "Perth hospital to review if cultural bias played a role in death of seven-year-old Aiswarya Aswath". SBS News. Special Broadcasting Service. Retrieved 10 April 2021. When a doctor finally saw Aiswarya, she reportedly died within 15 minutes.
  9. ^ a b "Perth Children's Hospital nurses sounded alarm over staffing, safety weeks before girl's tragic death". Nine News. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2021. I actually went to the reception four or five times and I asked them to look at her," mother Prasitha Sasidharan said. "I was begging.
  10. ^ Png, Kenith (6 April 2021). "Perth Children's Hospital death of seven-year-old girl Aishwarya Aswath prompts urgent review". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  11. ^ Graham, Ben (7 April 2021). "Perth Children's hospital: Nurse's damning letter before girl's death". news.com.au. Nationwide News. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
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